Electrical connector



Get. 15. 1 F. w. MEBOLD ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed 001:. 9, 1939 A TTO/ENEV Patented Oct. 15, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 1 2,218,210 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Frederick w. Mebold, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to James R. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application October 9, 1939, Serial No. 298,525

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to connectors adapted for use in mechanically and electrically connecting electrical conductors in the construction, repair, extension, and maintenance of electrical systems, such as telephone, telegraph.

light, and power systems, and more specifically to connectors of the split-bolt type which are of improved construction and arrangement, the predominant object of the invention being to providean improved connector of the type mentioned which, becauseof its unique construction and arrangement, is capable of economical pro- 25 Fig. 4 is a perspective of the follower of the connector illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a slightlymodified form of the invention with a portion of the connector shown in section, the follower of the con- 30 nector shown in Fig. 5 being operatively associated with the nut in a manner slightly different from the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Y Fig. 6 is a plan view of the connector illus- 35 trated in Fig. 5 with a portion 'of the connector shown in section.

-Fig. 7 is a perspective of the follower of the connector illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective of modified form of fol- 40 lower adapted for 'use with the connector shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

- Fig. 9 is a modified form of the bolt of the connectors illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6,

said bolt of Fig. 9 being of tubular formation. I 45' 10 is aplan view of the bolt illustrated in In the drawing, wherein are shown forthe purpose of illustration, merely, several embodi-- ments of the invention, A designates in Figs. 1, 5o 2, and 3 the improved connector generally, said connector A comprising a bolt B and a nut and follower assemblyC. The bolt B comprises a polygonal head portion I from which a shank portion 2' is'extended, saidbolt having formed 55 longitudinally thereof a slot-like opening 3 which is open at the outer face of the polygonal head portion I and which terminates short of the outer end of the shank portion 2 as shown to the best advantage in Figs. 1 and 2, said slot-like opening being openat opposite sides of the bolt 5 shank. Between the outer end of the shank portion of the bolt and the adjacent closed end of the opening 3 the shank portion of the bolt B is solid as indicated by the reference character 4 in .Fig. 2, and the shank portion of the 10 bolt is externally screwthreaded throughout substantially its entire length. The shank portion of the bolt B obviously is of circular cross section, and because of the presence in said shank'por'tion of the straight, slot-like opening 3 extended longitudinally'and transversely of said shank portion, the shank portions at opposite sides of the opening 3 are in the form of legs of segmental cross-section. Formed in and extended through the portions of the bolt B at opposite sides of the opening 3, and at points spaced inwardly of the outer face of the polygproved connector A ismade up of'a nut 6 and Q a follower], said nut being of conventional formation with the exception that it includes a relatively thin annular flange 8 which extends upwardly from the top face ofthe nut. The follower 1 is in the form of an element shaped as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 4; that-isto say said follower comprises an elongated portion 9 which is of only' slightly less width than-the width of the opening 3 and which is disposed in said opening as shown in Fig. 3, and opposite 40 end portions Ill which are extended slightly beyond opposite sides of said opening 3. The opposite end portions I 0 of the follower l are of greater width than the portion 9 .of said follower as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the outer faces ill of said opposite end portions are inclined as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4; Preferably, though not necessarily, the portion 9 of the follower -1 has formed longitudinally thereof a substantial-- ly V-shape'd groove H which serves as a conduce 75. the nut when high pressure follower is passed downwardly through the opening 3 to bring-the opposite, inclined faces III of the follower within the annular flange 8 of the nut, which, at this time, is extended parallel with respect to the axis of the nut as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. When the follower has beenseated on the top face of the nut and within the annular flange 8, said annular flange is swaged, or otherwise displaced, to cause it to assume an inclination which conforms substantially with the inclination of the end faces ll! of the follower. However the annular flange 8 .of the nut is not forced into tight, frictional contact with the inclined end faces ill of the fol- 15 lower as the nut must be capable of rotation rel- ,ative to the follower. When the improved connector has been assembled as described the nut may be screwed longitudinally of the shank portion of the bolt, the follower moving with the nut, in a straight-line manner, longitudinally of the opening 3.

In the use of the improved connector disclosed herein, the nut and follower assembly being located at the outer 'end of the shank portion of the bolt B, the connector A is moved upwardly with respect to a conductor D to which another conductor E, a ground wire, for instance, is to 4 be mechanically and electrically connected, the movement of the connector relative to the contend-ed throughthe opening 3 below the alined openings 5. An end portion of the conductor E is then extended through the alined openings 5 and the nut 6 is rotated with respect to the shank portion of the bolt to draw the conductors D and E into tight contactingrelation whereby said conductors are securely-connected mechanically and electrically. The force exerted against the portion of the conductor E which bridges theopening 3 of the bolt of the connector, when the nut and follower assembly is drawn upwardly on the bolt shank, will cause a slight bow to be placed in said bridging portion of said conductor as indicated at E in Fig. 1, and the presence of this slight bow will effectively resist accidental displacement of the conductor E with respect to the connector while the connector is in its conductor-clamping condition.

An important feature of the invention is that the nut and follower assembly C is always associated in operative relation with respect to the bolt B of the connector, hence the necessity for a lineman, or other person, to thread a nut on the bolt in making a connection with the connector is eliminated. Also, because the portion 9 of the follower! moves into contact with the inner face of the solid portion 4 'of the bolt, when the nut and follower assembly has reached itsoutward limit of .movement on the shank portion of the bolt, the nut and follower assembly may not be undesignedly detached from thebolt. Anadditional feature of the present invention resides in the factthat the invention disclosed herein includes no such projected nut retainers as-are frequently incorporated as parts of splitbolt connectors of the type heretofore employed, and therefore the connector ofv the present invention may be conveniently taped when this is desired. Still another feature of the invention has to do with they solid portion. 4 ofthe bolt shank which, because it is on the nut side of the bolt of the connector, eliminates any tendency of the legs of the bifurcated portionjof the bolt to collapse because of pressure applied thereto by ductor D being such that said conductor is exis applied to a pair of conductors being connected with the aid of the connector. In this connection it is obvious that the spaced legs at the opposite end of the bolt will not be collapsed because the nut does not move close enough to this end of the bolt to 5 have that effect, and because the portion 9 of the follower I, which islocated between the legs, will prevent collapsing thereof.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5,

6, and 7, differs from the form of the invention 10 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, in the manner of operatively assembling the nut and follower assembly. In Fig. 5 the nut 6 is shown as provided with an upwardly projected, annular extension IZ which is provided with an annular outer divergently inclined face l2, while the follower I? is provided with downwardly extended tongues l3 at its opposite ends which are swaged,

or otherwise displaced to cause them to loosely engage the inclined face I2 of the extension I2 of the nut. The form of connector illustrated in Figs. 5 and. 6, isused just as has been explained in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figs; 1, ,2, and 3, the nut 6 bein rotated about the bolt shank and relative to, the follower I andsaid follower moving longitudinally of the opening 3 as the nut is adjusted longitudinally of the bolt shank.

In Fig, 8 aform of follower l is illustrated which differs from the followers shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, in that the follower F is -of substantially inverted dish-shaped formation having openings formed in its top wall through which the spaced legs of the bolt shank are adapted to extend. The follower illustrated in Fig. 8 includes an annular downwardly extended flange l5 which is adapted to be swaged, or otherwise displaced, to cause it to loosely engage the inclined face l2 of the extension I! of the nut 6 shown in Fig. 5.

The bolt B illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 provides a simple bolt oftubular formation which may beeconomically produced by stamping or other operations. The tubular bolt B is closed at one end by a. solid wall l6, andit is provided with alined slot-like openings 3 extended longitudinally of the bolt, which serve the function of the opening 3 of the structure shown in Figs. 1,

2, and 3, and the opening 3* of the structure shown in Figs.- 5 and 6. Also the bolt of Figs. 9 and 10 is provided with alined openings 5 formed in opposed portions of the wall of the bolt which serve the function of the openings 5 of Figs. 1, 2, and 3. I

1. A connector-comprising a bolt having an externally screwthreaded portion, said bolt being of solid formation at one end' thereof and having spaced portions extended from said 'solid portion which provide a conductor-receiving opening 0 therebetween, said solid portion of said bolt being a part of the externally screwthreaded portion of said bolt, conductor-receiving cavities formed in the portions of said bolt at opposite sides of said conductor-receiving opening, a nut and follower assembly mounted on the externally screwthreaded portion of said bolt, said nut and :01 lower assembly comprising a nut screwthreadedly adjustable longitudinally of the screwthreaded portion of said bolt and ,a follower associated with said-nut and having a portion which is disposed in the conductor-receiving opening of said bolt and ismovable longitudinally thereof when the nut is screwthreadedly adjusted longitudinally of the bolt, and means forconnecting said follower and said nut so that the nut may rotate with respect to the follower.

2. A connector comprising a bolt having anexternally screwthreaded portion, said bolt being of solid formation at one end thereof and having spaced portions extended from said solid portion which provide a conductor-receiving opening.

adjustable longitudinally of the screwthreaded portion of said bolt and a follower associated with said nut and having a portion which is disposed in the conductor-receiving opening of said bolt and is movable longitudinally thereof when the nut is screwthreadedly adjusted longitudinally of the bolt, and means for connecting said follower and said nut so that the nut may rotate with respect to the. follower, said means comprising an inclined face formed on one of said elements, and a portion on the other of said elements which loosely engages the inclined face of the first mentioned element.

3. A connector comprising a bolt having an externally screwthreaded portion, said bolt being of solid formation at one end thereof and having spaced portions extended from said solid portion which provide a conductor-receiving opening therebetween, said solid portion of said bolt being a part of the externally screwthreaded portion of said bolt, conductor-receivingcavities formed in the portions of said bolt at opposite sides of said conductor-receiving opening, a nut and follower assembly mounted on the externally screwthreaded portion of said bolt, said nut and follower assembly comprising a nut screwthreadedly adjustable longitudinally of the screwthreaded portion of said bolt and a follower associated with said nut and having a portion which is disposed in the conductor-receiving opening of said bolt and is movable longitudinally thereof when the nut is screwthreadedly adjusted longitudinally of the bolt, and means for connecting said follower and said nut so that the nut may rotate with respect to the follower, saidmeans comprising an inclined face formed on one of said 'elements, and a displaced portion on the other of said elements which loosely engages the inclined face of the first mentioned element.

4. A connector comprising a bolt having an externally screwthreaded portion, said bolt being of solid formation at-one end thereof andhaving ing, a nut and follower assembly mounted on the externally screwthreaded portion of said bolt,-

said nut and follower assembly comprising a nut screwthreadedly adjustable longitudinally of the screwthreaded portion of-said bolt and a follower associated with said nut and having a portion which is disposed in the conductor-receiving opening of said bolt and is movable longitudinally thereof when the nut is screwthreadedly adjusted longitudinally of the bolt, and means for connecting said follower and said nut so that the a nut may rotate with respect to the follower.

5. A connector comprising a bolt having an externally screwthreaded portion, said bolt including a bridge portion and having spaced portions extended from said bridge portion which provide a conductor-receiving opening therebetween, said bridge portion of said bolt being a part of the "externally screwthreaded portion of said bolt, the

portions of said bolt at opposite sides of said conductor-receiving opening having cavities formed therein, a nut and follower assembly mounted on the externally screwthreaded portion of said bolt, said nut and follower assembly comprising a nut screwthreadedly adjustable longitudinally of the screwthreaded portion of said bolt and a follower associated with said nut and having a portion which is disposed in the conductor-receiving opening of said bolt and is movable longitudinally thereof when the nut is screwthreadedly adjusted longitudinally of the bolt, and means for connecting saidfollower and said nut so that the nut may rotate with respect to the follower.

6. A connector'comprising a bolt having an externally screwthreaded portion, said bolt being of solid formation at one end.thereof and having {spaced portions extended from said solid portion which provide a conductor-receiving opening therebetween, said solid portion of said bolt being a part of the externally screwthreaded portion of said bolt, conductor-receiving cavities formed in the portions of said bolt at opposite sides of said conductor-receiving opening, a nut and follower assembly mounted onthe externally screw threaded portion of saidbolt, said nut and follower assembly comprising a nut screwthreadedly adjustable longitudinally of the screwthreaded portion of said bolt and a follower associated with said nut and having a portion which is disposed in the condiictor-receiving opening of said bolt and is movable longitudinally thereof when the nut is screwthreadedly adjusted longitudinally of the bolt, a portion of said follower being adapted to contact with the base of said conductor-rec'eiving opening at said solid endportion of said bolt when the outward limit of movement of the nut and follower assembly with respect to the bolt is reached to prevent complete withdrawal of said nut and follower assembly from said bolt, and means for connecting said follower and said nut so that the nut may rotate with respect to the follower.

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